Chatting with Machines: How AI Companions Are Impacting Students

Teens are not just using artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Many are forming relationships with AI companions. That shift has real implications for student development, emotional well-being, and how young people define connection.

I published a piece in Tech and Learning that looks at what the research is telling us, why moves like Character.AI’s under-18 ban matter, and what educators and families can do right now to respond with clarity instead of panic. I also highlight examples of age-appropriate tools that aim to keep chat interactions purposeful, supervised, and grounded in learning.

If you are supporting students in a world where AI is always available, always responsive, and increasingly personal, this is a conversation we cannot avoid. Here is the article: Chatting with Machines: What Adults Should Know About Student Use of AI Companions

As you read, consider this question: What are we doing in schools and at home to help students recognize the difference between helpful support and unhealthy dependence, and to build the human relationship skills they will need for life?